Organizer of coalition Lauren Coker reads proposal to the crowd. Photo by Alexandria Sands.
Since President Donald Trump signed the executive order that temporarily banned travel from seven majority Muslim countries on Jan. 27, the UNC system has heard strong responses from its community.
Students joined in the Student Union Feb. 9 at noon to protest the ban and Trump’s plans to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Many students shared their stories about being or knowing immigrants.
The rally was part of a coalition which 25 student organizations joined, including Muslim Student Association (MSA) and College Democrats.
“I decided to start a coalition because I didn’t want it to be one protest of people being like ‘we care’ and then no action follows,” Coker said.
Coker said she wants to work with administration and Student Government Association (SGA) to push safety measures for minority students. She also said the coalition will provide resources for undocumented students for when administration “doesn’t come through.”
“I think it’s important to connect other people who are affected,” Coker said.
During the rally, organizer Lauren Coker read a document entitled “Proposed Policies and Procedures to Protect DACA and Undocumented Students at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte,” which gave specific instructions to how the University can protect undocumented students. The proposal was created by Assistant Professor of Philosophy Andrea J. Pitts and will be sent to Chancellor Philip L. Dubois. Coker said she doesn’t know if Dubois will respond.
“Our school likes to remain neutral. In my opinion- remaining neutral in dark times of injustice- you’re on the side of the oppressor if you remain neutral,” Coker said.
The proposed procedures include creating a program for undocumented students with a full-time director and free on-campus access to legal counsel. The proposal also asks the University to immediately release a statement that declares safety to undocumented students and to establish “a pact of non-compliance with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by declaring that UNCC will not cooperate with ICE in localizing and detaining students.”
Student holds sign at protest. Photo by Alexandria Sands.
Dubois had sent out an email to UNC Charlotte students, faculty and staff on Jan. 30 where he addressed the travel ban and clarified that the University was not aware of any students that were unable to travel back into the United States.
On Jan. 31, the University of North Carolina Association of Student Governments (UNCASG) issued a statement, signed by UNC Charlotte Student Body President Fahn Darkor, stating they fully opposed the ban.